Home brewing in Connecticut Discussions - CT Beer Trail

Sunday, February 3, 2008

I never got around to writing a review for the Holiday Ale I made this winter. I still have some left and brought a couple over to Dave's a week or so ago so he could try it. As you can see from the photo below, like most of my beers, it is a heady beast! I'll be honest, I poured this one to really show off the head, because the tiny bubbles flow up the pint glass from the inside/bottom much like they do with a glass of Guiness.

And now, in the interest of gaining closure on the whole Holiday Ale brew, here's Dave's VERY short review, before the digital camera crapped out on us... Take it away Dave!

Keep in mind I made this beer from a Brewer's Best recipe kit, it's one of those partial grain kits. (I'm still learning to brew after all.) My plan is to start moving past kits by the summer, stay tuned for details. I think the kit came with a standard 5 oz package of priming sugar, if memory serves.

I think the real issue is my tap water. Every batch I make has a lot of head, and the beer tends to have that "unfiltered" look to it. My local homebrew supply guy tells me my water is probably too had, or was that too soft... Well, it's one or the other.

I think, the next time I brew something that should be very clear, I'll pick up some recommended water additives from the supply store and see if it clears the water, and reduces the head. Again, stay tuned.

Keith thanks for linking to me, what ever the reason may have been. It's appreciated! And feel free to drop in and give me tips or what have you when ever...

Thanks for leaving a comment. I'd love to hear how you found my blog, if you're a first time poster, please let me know how you found my little corner of the web. I try to respond to all comments, so please check back for a response.

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Welcome to HomeBrewBeer.Net

For years I thought about making my own home brewed beer, but thought it would be too difficult. Now I'm finally giving it a go! I will be documenting my experiences here in the hopes of enabling others to learn from my mistakes and hopefully have some fun in the process.

In addition to discussing my attempts at home brewing, I'll also occasionally write about other related topics. Anything from home brew kits, beer reviews & brewery tours, to religion, healthy diets and responsible drinking will be fair game. In the mean time, I invite you to join me as I embark on a brave new journey into home brewing! Cheers!

Soap Box: Beer should be enjoyed responsibly! Drink quality beer and drink it in moderation! Nobody likes a drunkard!

Enjoying quality beer is about taking the time to savor its taste, color, smell, texture and over all quality. Over indulging impairs your ability to do so, and should be avoided.

Learn How to Brew Beer Today!

Homebrewing for Dummies is a clear, concise, how-to guide for the do-it-yourselfer. As it turns out, making beer isn't hard to do if you have a stove, some basic equipment, a little time on your hands, and a wife that wont divorce you if the kitchen smells like a brewery.

Feel like diving into home brewing head first? You should, but don't go it alone. This book will get you on the right path towards making your own Hefeweizen or India Pale Ale with ease. You'll get the recipes and solid step-by-step instructions. This book covers just about everything, but you're on your own when it comes to your wife.

The Basics of Home Brewing

Considering making your own beer? Wondering what it involves? Here's the skinny... The entire process will take about four weeks or so. Once completed, you'll be able to enjoy and proudly share your beer with friends and family. Now, what could be more rewording than that? Here's a high level view of the entire process:

Brewing

Get the equipment and buy ingredients. Your best bet is to grab a starter kit online or from your local beer making supply shop. (30 minutes or so, not including shipping times)

Clean and sanitize the equipment (15 minutes or so, but do a good job, this is very important!)

Brew the beer and start the fermentation (60-90 minutes the first time, my first batch was closer to 90 minutes, that wort takes a long time to boil!)

Fementation

Waiting, waiting and more waiting. Look at the pretty bubbles! (typically about a week)

Bottle Your Beer

Takes about an hour once fermentation is complete. (don't bottle too early, they could expload!)

Bottle Conditioning

Waiting, waiting and more waiting. Look at the pretty bottles! (usually two to four weeks)